Call for peanut allergy medication to be made available in Scotland
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A north-east MSP is urging a life-saving wonder drug to be made available in Scotland to reduce and potentially eliminate peanut allergies in children after it was rejected over cost.
Children aged four to 17 in England are being the first in Europe to receive an oral treatment called Palforzia which helps to reduce the severity of symptoms including anaphylaxis after a reaction to peanuts.
NHS England approved the treatment which is expected to help around 2000 children per year after it was approved by health watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
But despite this, in a response to a written question from Mr Burnett, health secretary Humza Yousaf said it had been rejected for use in Scotland after it “did not present a sufficiently robust economic analysis to gain acceptance by the Scottish Medicines Consortium”.
He added that the submitting company, Aimmune Therapeutics, has indicated its intention to apply again for it to be implemented in health boards across Scotland.
It comes as Mr Burnett has been contacted by concerned parents who have been left angered by the decision to reject its use.
The MSP for Aberdeenshire West said: “I’m extremely disappointed that price is being picked over the wellbeing of children suffering from this traumatic allergy.
“Parents have contacted me who are rightly concerned and frustrated after seeing the life-changing impact it has made to children in England yet in Scotland, it has been rejected due to cost.
“I find it astonishing and disgraceful that the SNP Government is choosing to penny pinch at a time when the lives and mental health of children are being severely impacted by this cruel illness.
“In England, this revolutionary treatment has allowed children to enjoy meals out or holidays abroad together without worrying about an allergic reaction that could land them in hospital or worse.
“I’m hopeful a new application for the approval of Palforzia can be fast-tracked to give families in the north-east and the rest of Scotland the opportunity to improve the health of loved ones.”
In his response, Mr Yousaf said: “By way of an update, Aimmune Therapeutics has indicated its intention to make a resubmission to the SMC.
“If they do, information on the specific timelines for the reassessment will be available via the search facility available on the home page of the SMC’s website.
“There is a fast-track resubmission option, which reduces the normal assessment timeline.”
Emily Pratt (9) was the first child to be treated using Palforzia through a medical trial at Evelina London Children’s Hospital.
Her mother, Sophie, said it had “changed our lives”, adding: “Emily is free from limits and the fear that the tiniest mistake could put her life at risk.”
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS medical director, said: “This pioneering treatment can be life-changing for patients and their families.
“It will reduce the fear and anxiety for patients and their families who may have been living with this allergy for years, and carrying around emergency medication just in case.”
